The Maharashtra Police on Tuesday said that they have summoned suspended Bharatiya Janata Party spokesperson Nupur Sharma for her derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.
“Nupur Sharma has been asked to appear on June 22,” Ashok Kadlag, a senior inspector at Mumbra Police Station in Thane district, told Scroll.in.
Sharma was suspended on Sunday from the party for her remarks against Prophet Muhammad during a debate on Times Now television channel on May 26.
The BJP also expelled Naveen Jindal, the media head of BJP’s Delhi unit. Jindal had posted a tweet on June 1 about the Prophet but it was later deleted.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have provided security to Sharma and her family after she said that she had been receiving death threats following her remarks, reported ANI.
She had requested the police for security citing harassment and threats.
The BJP had suspended Sharma and expelled Jindal after several West Asian countries condemned the remarks about Prophet Muhammad by the party spokespersons. At least 18 countries and organisations have so far criticised the comments made by the spokespersons.
Amid the backlash, Union minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday that “good relations” would continue with these countries.
“I don’t think that this statement was made by any government functionary and therefore it has no impact on the government and necessary action has been taken by the party,” Goyal said, according to PTI.
In the last two days, the Gulf Cooperation Council, Libya, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain, the Taliban regime in Afghanistan, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Jordan, Indonesia and the Maldives have lodged protests against the remarks.
A supermarket in Kuwait took Indian products off its shelves in protest against the suspended BJP spokesperson’s comments. Kuwait’s foreign ministry also summoned the Indian Ambassador to the country, Sibi George, and handed over an official protest note.
Meanwhile, several first information reports have been filed against Sharma.
In Hyderabad, sub inspector P Ravindar filed a complaint against her saying that she had used “abusive words against Prophet Muhammad” and “maliciously insulted” Islam on television.
Two other complaints have been lodged in Mumbai’s Pydhonie and Thane’s Bhiwandi City police stations.
On Sunday, following the disciplinary action against her, Sharma issued an apology.
“If my words have caused discomfort or hurt religious feelings of anyone whatsoever, I hereby unconditionally withdraw my statement,” Sharma wrote. “It was never my intention to hurt anyone’s religious feelings.”
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!